SAINTS will be desperate to bring to an end a 19-month wait for victory over one of the Premier League's big guns in the top-flight against Arsenal on Sunday.

Not since May 2016, when Ronald Koeman's side defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at White Hart Lane, have Saints toppled one of the current top six.

Since then, Saints have played 15 times against leading clubs, losing 11 times and drawing four.

That means, out of a possible 45 points, Saints have collected just four.

This period of drought against the top guns mainly came during the Claude Puel era, which did, however, yield three victories over big clubs in the League Cup.

Puel led Saints to double wins against Liverpool in the two-legged semi-final and, before that, defeated Arsenal 2-0 in the last eight of the tournament at the Emirates.

However, a Premier League win over one of these teams remained elusive to the Frenchman, who was sacked at the end of his only season in charge back in June.

The four points Saints have tallied came all in draws last season against Manchester United, Liverpool (twice) and Manchester City, while Saints were beaten in both games against Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea - and lost their other fixtures against the Manchester clubs in 2016/17.

Saints previously had a big reputation when it came to beating these big sides, having defeated all of them in Koeman's final season in 2015/16, when they finished sixth in the top-flight.

In the Dutchman's first season in 2014/15, Saints also beat Arsenal and Manchester United, while in Mauricio Pochettino's tenure his side managed to get wins over Liverpool (twice), Manchester City and Chelsea.

That has not been the case, however, in Puel's era nor Pellegrino's so far.

Saints have faced Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City at this point this term and have come away empty handed from each of those games.

Pellegrino's side did play well against United and City, while they were poor at Anfield in a 3-0 defeat.

Saints have previously had success against this Sunday's visitors Arsenal at St Mary's.

Prior to their two defeats to the Gunners at home in 2017, Saints had won two and drawn three of five meetings against Arsene Wenger's side dating back to the 2004/05 campaign.

That solid run did not continue under Puel, though, as Saints lost 5-0 in the FA Cup fourth round in January, followed by a 2-0 Premier League loss in May.

Saints have plenty of opportunity to end this fruitless run against the leading sides, with Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United still to play this month.